DDD #04 Media

DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT DEBATES

Role of mass media in enhancing education in Bangladesh

Maria Salami (Banglanews24.com)

“The role of mass media in a democratic country is similar to the role of judiciary and executive. To

some extent, it plays a more effective role than judiciary and executive organs of the country.” Dhaka

University Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique came up with these remarks while

chairing a journalism workshop in the capital of Bangladesh. And still I can remember this.

Prof Arefin was highlighting on the role of mass media in the socio-economic and the educational de-

velopment of a developing country. His message was that both the print and broadcast media can

play a vital role in enhancing education in a developing country. It can shape and create public opini-

on towards on related issues by applying its strength and bring changes among individual. I fully

agree with him.

We in Bangladesh are now in a state of media expansion. A large number of people here depend on

newspapers and broadcast media for entertainment. But media also has an important educational

role: Students from rural areas can take lesson from watching certain television programmes. They

also can learn a lot of things listening to radio. And almost every national daily, both Bangla and Eng-

lish, has its education page; they published both institutional and general knowledge based reports

for students.

Education is much more than going to schools and colleges, its purpose is to create awareness

among people. Mass media is providing this kind of knowledge outside of the schoolroom. Thus it is

playing a vital role in creating mass awareness both in rural and urban areas in our country.
Role of print media

Print media in our country is very powerful. People, especially, the students read newspapers for

learning different aspects about life, art, culture and science of both home and abroad.

Almost every newspaper has its own education page. In the page, they published educational articles

written by teachers, trainers, students, and experts. It also publishes different difficult explanations,

questions and answers of secondary and higher secondary levels.

Some English dailies publish the techniques of teaching English language and grammar, while some

scientific magazines scientific explanations and new inventions. Some dailies publish ‘weekly

magazines’, which focuses mainly on the higher education.In addition, they publish the prospectus of

different educational institutions.

Again, students as well as adults can learn good English from the English newspapers. They can read

articles about a certain topic and enrich their language knowledge.

Some newspapers have their “reader’s forum”. Through this forums they, try to enhance education

and awareness in different areas of the country. The readers of different newspapers, who also work

for it as volunteers, teach the deprived children in their free time. Sometimes, they provided books

and related materials for slam children, who never got any chance to go school.

I know some journalist. They try to create awareness among the working children and adults. They - 2 -

DDD #04 Media

do this either provoked by their own interests and sense of responsibility or assigned by the office.

Besides, national dailies, both Bangla and English often organize some discussion meetings, work-

shops and seminars for students and professionals, which is very powerful to create mass awareness.

Role of Broadcast media

As I said earlier, we are now in a state of “Media Expansion”, we have lot of TV and radio channels

and every day new channels are coming. Broadcasting media is the most common & popular media
in our country.

In the cases of developing countries, like Bangladesh, implementation of education fully depends on

appropriate use of broadcasting media technology. And the government as well as private

organizations are using Radio and television for meeting these demands.

A significant result has already been achieved in the field of mass education of Bangladesh by using

broadcasting media. All the TV and Radio channels present various educational programmes for the

students. These programmes become very popular in the country.

“Meena” cartoon to create awareness

For example, Bangladesh government in association with UNICEF Bangladesh is presenting a cartoon

show “Meena”. In the serial Meena is the main character. She represents the common village girls of

our country. She talks about serious issues such as education, early marriage, unequal food and other

sensitive social issues.

This cartoon show created a huge mass awareness in Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, there is universal

awareness of Meena and 95% know the Meena television series. Now she became a role model of

south Asian girl fighting against the society without any weapon.

The state run radio channels also organize educational programmes for the children and adults. They

arrange live grammar classes, explanation classes and public awareness programmes.

In my childhood, I heard a radio programme regularly. That was “Gombhira song show” (A type of

popular local song), which created a huge mass awareness among people. In the songs some

“Gombhira” artists explains the fundamental rules, regulations of the society and their positive im-

pact on people’s life.

Thus, the broadcasting media in our country, over last few decades is trying to expand classrooms for

people without building any school.

Conclusion

In Bangladesh, the reach of mass media has gradually increased in the last few decades. Now people
are more conscious about issues like education and health. The government and human rights

organizations are giving various social awareness advertisements in newspapers, Radio and TV, which

plays a vital role in expanding education among people.

Although, currently, 20 per cent of the population is under some form of media darkness, Bangladesh

has experienced phenomenal growth in education by using mass media. Especially, this penetration

has increased more rapidly in rural areas, compared to urban dwellers.